NANCHANG, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Ronnie O'Sullivan edged out Chinese teenager Wu Yize 6-5 in a thrilling semi-final at the 2026 Yushan Snooker Open on Saturday, setting up a final against Thailand's Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, who stunned world number one Judd Trump 6-4.
In the afternoon's last-four clash, the seven-time world champion O'Sullivan made a blistering start, racing to a 2-0 lead with frame-winning runs of 77 and 86. Wu fought back to level at 3-3, but O'Sullivan fired the only century break of the match, a clinical 118, to take a 5-4 lead. The 22-year-old Chinese showed immense composure to force a decider, where 50-year-old O'Sullivan held his nerve to seal the victory 89-43.
The evening session brought the tournament's biggest upset, as Un-Nooh produced a masterclass of break-building with three century breaks, 128, 134 and 134, to eliminate Trump and book his final spot.
Speaking after the match, O'Sullivan admitted relief at coming through the tight contest. "For me, every match I enjoy being a snooker player. That's a victory in itself," he said. "He [Wu] showed good play under pressure. He's going to be around for a lot longer than me."
O'Sullivan also revealed he had rebuilt his game over the past three weeks after a prolonged slump. "I've had to accept that I need to take my game apart, re-learn it, re-coach myself. The first two weeks were some good, some bad, but then all of a sudden something happened. I've played good for the last six or seven days, though I don't know if I can continue like that."
O'Sullivan said his improved snooker form had put plans to switch to Chinese billiards on hold. "As long as I'm enjoying snooker, that will come first."
O'Sullivan will face Thepchaiya in Sunday's best-of-19 final, his first major ranking final since 2018. ■
